Blank-feed for metal heading, punching, and trimming machines.



. A. 0. CAMPBELL. BLANK FEED FOR METAL HEADING, PUNOHING, AND TRIMMING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 WITNESSES:

A55 Patented May 31; 1919.

A. G. CAMPBELL. BLANK FEED FOR METAL HEADING, PUNOHING, AND TRIMMING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 28, 1909.

Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. O. CAMPBELL. BLANK FEED FOR METAL HEADING, PUNGHING, AND TRIMMIN G MACHINES,

- APPLIOATION FILED APR. 28. 1909.

959A55@ Patented May 31, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. nnnnnw-ci' or mumm connnc'rxo'or, assrenon To THE E. J. mvrnnr. ,monmn COMPANY, or WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A conromrron iii-'02 o m nces.

I m air ent non METAL READING, rononme, Ann 'rnrmmme MACHINES.

Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented May 31, 1911'.

Application filed April 28, 1909. Serial No. 492,696.

:To all uilwm it may cOncer'1i:.

Be it-kn'own that I, Antmsw G. Ganrsnnn, a citizemofithe United States, res1ding at Waterbury,-'inthe cbiiiity 'of New Haven,

and State Connecticut, have invented a new"a'nd"'i1sefu'l Improvement 1n Blank- Feeds for- Metal Heading, Punching, and

TrimmingiMachines, ofwhi'ch the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to means for feeding blanks, snchblanks for instance as are intended to .be formed in'to bolts, headed studs, rivets, hin "e. pins, lag, coach and other screws, and shit iir metallic articles, which have heads or enlarged sections that may be round, sqiiare, hexagonal or other shape. These blanks 'are iisually placed, so-as to hang by their heads vertica lyin succession, in a truck, 'racemy or other device designed to receive them, by the hand of the operator, or by aiitoinaticallty actlngmcchanism which gathers them rom a promiscuous mass in a. hopper, or other receptacle. The feed mechanism carries the blancs one at'a time from the vertical position at the end of the track to a horizontal position in line with the opening in the forming die and punch, which receive and act upon the blanks for the purpose of further enlarging, or reshaping, or trimming, the heads, or enlarged portions, as'the case may be.

The object of this invention is to provide for machines designed to operateupon the above mentioned articles, a very simple and cheap, accurate aha durable means, which will advance horizontally in substantially a right line and take the first blank that is hanging vertica'llyby its head at the end of fh eld liorizont ally,'and carry the blank into absolute 'alin'ernent with the center of the ;which are provided for acting u the track or outlet from the hopper, then after receding horizontally in substantially a right line, so far that the blank will clear, the end of "the track or other holder, W111,

f swing in a curve iin'til the blank is in a horifz'ontal position, and then move vertically in substantially"a right line, with the blank opening in ,t-he di'hnd punch, or other tools,

'on it.

This invention 'is 'adap'te or feeding blanks to hea'ders, trimmers, riveters and similar metal forming machines, of the classes known as single, double, or multiple stroke machines, which are provided with either solid or open dies of any conformation, which machines may have any ordinary types of hoppers or receptacles for holding the blanks, but for the sake of simplicity and clearness, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and described in this specification, only in connection with a single stroke, solid the heading machine, without any hopper, and only so much of the actuating mechanism of such a machine is illustrated-and specified as is necessary to-impart a clear-and concise comprehensionof the nature and use of the invention. V

The feed mechanism embodying the in vention in the simple form shown and de-' scribed, has two rocker shafts with coincident axes, each being turned through an arc-of about 90 degrees by two cams on the crank shaft of the machine. -Ca'rried on the inner ends of'each' rocker shaft is an arm,

to one of which is pivoted a lever that carries the spring fingers which take the blank from the end of the track and deliver it to the die and punch. A link joins the opposite end vof the finger lever to the arm on the other v a short distance, after which the link arm is caused to rise a little, thereby/depressing the fingers with the blank, then both arms are oscillated. This motion of the two arms is continued until the blank is carried to a horizontal position, and then the link arm is held for a time while the movement-of lated into horizontal position, in order to be again moved forward for the purpose of receiving the next blank.

Figuge 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a plan. of a single stroke solid die a cut-off and feed mechanism containing this invention. Fig. l shows a view of the lower end of the track, and the cut-oll' bars in.the position they occupy when obstructing the outletfrom the track and holding back the row of blanks, which hang by their heads. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the cutolt' bars moved to the position occli pied after they have separated the lowest blank from the others, and forced it from the outlet at the end of the track into the lingers of the feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side, view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the linger bar and the spring fingers mounted thereon. Fig. 8 shows a side elevation 5f the feed mechanism in the position occupied when the fingers are taking a blank from the lower end of the track. Fig. 9 shows a view of the feed mechanism in the position occupied after the fingers have moved back from the track and have commenced to oscillate downwardly, so as to carry the blank from 'the vertical to the horizontal position. F lg. 10 shows the feed mechanism in the position o'ccupied when the lingers have carried the blank to the lowest position, and in line with the die opening and punch.

The horizontal type of machine chosen to illustrate the application ofthe invention, has an oblong frame 1 mounted on legs 2. The crank shaft 3, which is supported in suitable bearings near one end of the frame, has the customary fly wheel 4, and crank 5, which, by means of the pitman (3, reciprocates the gate 7 that slides horizontally in the frame and carries the punch 8. The many details of a machine of this character are not illustrated and described in full, for as stated, the present invention is applicable not only to the simple machine shown, but also to the more complicated multiple stroke machines, and these details form no part of the present invention.

Mounted on a bracket 9, fastened to the top, at one end of the frame of the machine shown, is a track 10. This track is shown as formed of two plates fastened edgewise to the top of the bracket, the space between the plates beingwider than the diameter of the shanks of the blanks, but narrower than the diameter of the heads of the blanks. The blanks may be placed in this race-way by hand, or automatically by mechanism, such as is commonly used in this class of machines.

their points are opposed so that when one is in front of the end of the track, itwill hold all of the blanks from coming down, as shown in Fig. 4, but when the other is movedin front of the track, it will push out the lowest blank and hold back the remainder. The cut-olt' yoke shown, is fastened to a shaft 13 which is supported vertically by the bracket. This shaft, on its lower end, has a rocker arm 14: that is connected by a. rod l5 with the lever 16 which has a roll 17 that is held against the surface of the cam 18 on the .crank shaft, by means of the spring 19 which is extended between the rocker arm and a'pin 2t) projecting from the side of the frame.

livotally supported in a bearing 21 on.

the top of one side of the frame, is a tubular rocker shaft 22. Extending through this tubular shaftis a rocker shaft 23. On the outer end of the tubular shaft isa rocker arm 24, and on the outer end of the solid shaft is a rocker arm The first of these rocker arms is connected by a rod 26 with a lever 27, and the second of these rocker arms is connected by a rod 28 with a lever 29. These leversa re adapted to be oscillated at the desired time by properly cut cam grooves 30 and 31in opposite sides of thecam disk 32 which ,is mounted on the crank shaft by the side .of the fly wheel. (Fig. 1.)

Projecting upwardly from the inner end of the tubular shaft 22 is a rocker arm 33, and pivoted to the upper end ofthis rocker arm is atlcver 3-1. Projecting rearwardly from the solid shaft 23 is a rocker arm 35. A link 36 connects the rear end of the lever 34. and the rear end of the rocker arm 35.. Attached to the forward end of the lever 34: is the finger carrying bar 37, mounted upon .the sides of which are the spring fingers 38.

These fingers have grasping ja'ws 39 and separating points 40. olf bars have mortises 41 into which the points 40 extend when the fingers are forward for the purpose of receiving a blank, as shown-in Figs. 5 and 6.

When the machine is in operation, the

rocker arm 33 is oscillated forwardly by its cam. During this first movement of the arm 33, the rocker arm 35 is held stationaryby its cam. By reason of the parallel link motion, this action causes the spring fingersto move forward to the end of the track, as

shown in' Fig." 8. The cut-off mechanism is then moved to one side and separates the lowest blank, which is hanging by its head in the track, from the others and forces that blank into the grasp of the fingers carried by Ice (Fig. 7). The cutwhere it is in line with and punch opening 43.

the lever 34, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8.

.fromdropping from the track. The cam then oscillates the rocker arm 33 backwardly, and as before, the rocker arm 35 being held stationary, the link motion causes the fingers 'to recede and hold the blank approximately "vertical. Whenthe blank has v been carried back a sufiicient distance for it to clear the track and cut-off, that is, when the rocker arm 33 is again vertical, the cam causes the rocker arm 35 to lift and oscillate the lever 34 on its pivotal center. The rocker arm- 33 at this time being held stationary, the fingers a-retipped so that the blank occupies the position shown in full 'linesin Fig. 9. Then the. cams oscillate both rocker arms together. This carriers the blank clownwardly through the various positions-illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 9 until it arrives in the horizontal position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 10. The cams now act to hold the rocker arm 35 in a vertical position and to .continuethe movement of the rocker-arm 33, which action, due to the parallel link motion, carries the blank downward from the horizontal position, shown by the dottedlines in Fig. 10 to the horizontal position shown by the full lines in that figure, the die opening 42 After the punch has been advanced so that it motion lifte until they are clear of the blank, and t en oscillated to a horizontal position and againmoved forward to obtain another blank. While this is taking place, the cut-off has been oscillated back to the po sition. shown in Fig. 4, ready to separate another blank and pass it to the spring fin gers when they are again moved up.

As previously stated, the shape of the die and of the punch are immaterial to the ,in- 'vention. The'spring fingers are readily removed at any time to permit the application tion, and are a source of annoyance; at the end of the-track and in proximity to the tools.-

The panto raph or link motionv of the mechanism 0 rrying the fingers, is always will 1101a the blank, the fingers are by the cams and parallel link lever,

the same in the form shown, sincii both controlling cams are cut on one disk. Of course these cams can be so cut, and the length of the rocker arms and the lever and link, so

proportioned as to produce variations in the travel of the blank,such as might be necessary for blanks of varying lengths. In

all cases, however, the fingers move forwardly, and after grasping a blank, carry it from one position to. a position at right angles thereto, without interfering with any of the tools or tool actuating mechanism.

The invention claimed is:

. 1. -A feed mechanism having fingers, mechanism 'for advancing the fingers in substantially a right withdrawing the.fingers in substantially a right line with a blank, for oscillating the fingers so as to turn the blank substantially degrees, and for carrying the fin ers with the blank in substantially a right ine after having been turned 90 degrees.

2. A fecd mechanism having fingers, I mechanism for advancing the fingers in substantially a right line toward a blank, for withdrawing the fingers in'substantially a right line with a blank, for oscillating the ngers so as to turn the blank substantially 90 degrees, for carrying the fingers with the blank in substantially a right line after having been turned 90 degrees, a track for hold ing the blanks and a Y blanks from the track into the fingers. 3. A feed mechanism having fingers,

mechanism for advancing the fingers-in sub-- stantially a ri ht line toward a blank, for withdrawing tlie fingers in substantially a right line with a blank, for oscillating the fingers so as to turn the blank substantially 90 degrees, for carrying the blank in substantially a right line after it has been turned 90 degrees, an inclined track, and a cut-oii movable atthe end of the track for forcing the blanks into the fingers.

at. A feed mechanism having fingers, mechanism for advancing the fingers in substantially a right line toward a blank, for withdrawing the fingers in substantially a rightline fingers so as to carry the blank from a vertical to a horizontal position, for carrying the fin ers with the blank in substantially a rig t line after it has been swun 90 degrees, a track for holding the blank s, and a. 1 2 wedge-shaped cut-ofi' for controlling the blanks in and forcing the blanks from the track to the fingers. Q

5. A" feed mechanism lever, spring nally of said lever, means for moving the lever forwardly andbackwardly in substanhaving a fingertially a right line, means for oscillating the and lowcrmg and means for raisin the lever in substantially a nght line.

line toward a blank, for

cut-oil for forcing the fingers with the with ablank, for oscillating the fingers extending longitudi- 6. A feed mechanism having spring fingers, a parallelilink mechanism carrying thefingers, and mechanism for moving the link mechanism so the fingers travel first in substantially a right line and then on a curve, and then in substantially a right line.

7. A heading or trimming machine having a straight inclined track for holding blanks, spring fingers adapted to receive the blanks, a cut-off mechanism at the end of thetrack for separating the lowest blank from those above and forcing it into the spring fingers, and mechanism for moving the spring fingers with the blank substantially horizontally, then on a curve to carrythe blank from vertical to a l-iorizontal position, and then substantially vertically.

8. A feed mechanism for a swaging machine having a track for supporting blanks, means for holding the blanks in the track and at the propertime cutting off and forcing forward the first bl l.lll ,n1QClli111lS1l1 for actuating the cutting oil means at the proper tinie, fingers adapted tobe moved forwar ly to the end of the track} and,to receive the blank cut-oft and forced outwardly by tne separating means, and mechanism for reciprocating and oscillating the fingers so as to carrythe blank from a vertical to a hori zontal position.

9. A feed mechanism having a rocker arm, a lever pivotally mounted on the rocker arm, grasping fingers carried by the lover, a rocker arm havmg its was coincident with the first mentioned rocker arm,

a link connecting the second mentioned rocker arm and the lever, and means for oscillatin the rocker arms. I

10. A feed mechanism having a tubular shaft, a rocker arm projecting therefrom, 5T6

shaft extending through the tubular shaft, a rocker' arm projectln from the inner shaft, a lever carried by t e rocker arm pro jecting from the tubular shaft, fingers carried by the lever, a link connecting the lever 5 and the rocker arm projecting from the inner shaft, and means for oscillating the rocker shafts.

11. A feed mechanism having a tubular shaft, a shaft extending through the tubular 5 shaft, rocker arms projecting from the outer end of the-tubular shaft and the outer end of the inner shaft, earns, levers oscillated by the cams, rods connecting the levers with the said rocker arms,' rocker arms pro ectmg 

